Welsh mechanic looking for advice on moving to Alberta
 

Hi there everyone, i'm new to the site so please be patient with me.
I am a 30yr old mechanic from wales who is thinking of applying for PR and moving to Alberta for good. I have been in the automotive trade since 2003 working for a couple of garages as well as self employed as a mobile mechanic on weekends and I am also qualified as panel beater and sprayer!
I come from an agricultural background and my parents own 3 working farms which I help out on when I have any spare time. I went out to Alberta back in 2014 for 6 months to work on a farm as a farm mechanic and I loved the area and the country!!!
Now after long thoughts and some discussions with friends and some family I have decided that I really wanna move out there for good, preferably the Red Deer area!!!!
So, i'm looking for some helpful advice on a few things from either people who have done the same move or from anyone in the auto trade?
Would I be best to get help with the express entry? Should I apply under the skilled worker or skilled trade section? Should I get a job offer first or not? And does anyone have any advice about getting the Red Seal as a mechanic, can I do it after moving but before applying for a job or do I need to do it before moving and before or after applying for a job? (if that makes sense??) And lastly, does anyone have any advice to offer or things I should be aware of or keep an eye out for?
Any and all help would be much appreciated.

Thank you everyone in advance!!
Marc

Re: Welsh mechanic looking for advice on moving to Alberta
 

Did you go out to work in 2014 with a valid visa? Otherwise, I'd keep that out of the story if I was you. You don't want to jeapordize future plans. Who knows who reads this. Otherwise, if you're still 30, the iec visa is the easiest way to get out here.

Re: Welsh mechanic looking for advice on moving to Alberta
 

Hi there,
Yeah I got a valid work permit and an LMIA etc. Was valid until December this year but the job was only 6 months.

Re: Welsh mechanic looking for advice on moving to Alberta
 

Red Deer has two body shops that i know of opening in the next little while.

Our move was almost 11 years ago. Our immigration consultant ( we didnt have home internet back then so hadn't found this site) suggested OH Take the exam before we moved, exam was booked, job offer in place but not actually ready to go and a three month WP was issued at the border when OH arrived. Followed by panic stations and a quick move over for him. I wouldn't recommend this route!

Alberta is in a bad way right now, with lots of people out of work. LMIAs may be harder to come by BUT body shops have historically been hard to staff.

Re: Welsh mechanic looking for advice on moving to Alberta
 

Hi do you have experience of working in agricultural equipment dealerships (John Deere etc) and have you completed an apprenticeship and/or manufacturer technical training?



S

Re: Welsh mechanic looking for advice on moving to Alberta
 

Thanks for the reply,
Why is it that the bodyshops are hard to staff?? Is there anything I should look out for in that respect???
Also, what route would you suggest as I am considering doing the exam first before actually moving and then go from there?

Re: Welsh mechanic looking for advice on moving to Alberta
 

Hi there, I have worked for a Massey dealership but was only for 12 months. I went self employed after that as an auto/agri mechanic and then took a 3yr job out in northern Sweden where I worked on John Deere tactors and equipment and specialised in the John Deere Combi Balers.
Don't have any agricultural mechanic certification though.

Re: Welsh mechanic looking for advice on moving to Alberta
 

Because they cant get staff:blink: When the oil was booming people worked the oild fields for the big bucks, they didnt stay in school to get trades, now the oil has tanked there are more people looking for work but they will not necessarily be trained in body shop quals. I think youd have more luck body shop wise than mechanic. The dealership OH works at has seen a drop in work (oil field companies don't need so much work doing when they arw not doing anything:sneaky:).

The problem with doing the exam before moving has already been explained. OH got 3 months in which to pass, as he had not done any study, treating the exam as a mock to see what he needed to brush up on ( he is much older than you, his training was done 30 odd years ago) and he was told he had to pass before his unexpected work permit expired. It was pressure neithet of us expected or needed.

Re: Welsh mechanic looking for advice on moving to Alberta
 

Ah I understand now. I see what you mean. I will look into this then as I do remember the oil feed work drying up when I left there in spring 2015.

Re: Welsh mechanic looking for advice on moving to Alberta
 

I will send you a PM with a suggestion.

S

Re: Welsh mechanic looking for advice on moving to Alberta
 

PS: if you are only 30 and not yet 31, Rivingtonpike's suggestion is a good one. Make yourself a profile for an IEC Working Holiday work permit and see if you get invited to apply for a WP which will be for up to 2 years and is not restricted either to employer or to location. But you will have to create a profile now this minute (!) because around half the invitations for UK citizens have already gone.

International Experience Canada – travel and work in Canada

The agreement the UK has with Canada means that UK candidates have to be under 31 when they apply.

S